Email this article BORAX CONTAMINATION IN CHILDREN’S TRADITIONAL MARKET FOODS AND CHILDREN FOOD SAFETY AWARENESS IN MUSLIM SOCIETIES: A STUDY IN MEDAN, INDONESIA
Abstract
Food contamination by hazardous chemicals remains a problem for children’s health, rights, and social inclusion in Indonesia. Muslim women in the city of Medan serve as the primary caregivers and guardians of food safety; however, their awareness and the safety of the food purchased for their children at traditional markets have not yet been extensively studied. Based on the principles of halal-thayyib, this study examined awareness, knowledge, and behaviors related to boric acid contamination in children’s food and assessed boric acid levels in samples of meatballs and fresh noodles sold in traditional and modern markets. The study employed a cross-sectional design with 208 respondents selected through stratified random sampling, combined with laboratory testing of food samples. The results showed that 55.3% of respondents had general knowledge about borax and formalin, but only 15.4% demonstrated in-depth understanding. Safe food consumption behaviors were associated with knowledge and risk perception. No borax was detected in meatballs, whereas 37% of wet noodle samples tested positive for borax. These findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive food safety education, halal-thayyib governance, stricter regulations, and child-centered monitoring in traditional markets.
Keywords : Borax contamination; children’s food safety; Muslim community; halal-thayyib; traditional markets
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